Red dot sights

What a mounting footprint is

Every slide-mounted red dot sits on a footprint — a standardised pattern of screw holes and recoil bosses. The mount, plate or slide cut is machined to one of these patterns, and any optic built to the same pattern bolts straight on. The footprint is the one specification a buyer must get right.

The footprint decides the fit, not the brand

The most common mistake is assuming the optic brand has to match the mount or pistol brand. It does not. A mount cut for the Trijicon RMR pattern takes any RMR-footprint optic — whatever name is on it. That is why this category is organised by footprint first: pick the pattern your mount, plate or slide is cut for, then choose the optic you want within it.

Rail-mounted and direct-fit optics

Two groups sit outside the footprint system. Rail optics clamp to any Weaver/Picatinny rail — rifles, shotguns and PCCs rather than pistol slides. Direct-fit optics mount straight into a specific optics-ready slide cut with no plate in between; their fit is model-specific.

Choosing the right red dot

Once the footprint is settled, the choice comes down to reticle, window size, battery arrangement and enclosed versus open emitter — all listed under Key specifications on each product page. Spare mounting screw sets are here too.